Doug Tait on Life at Urban Group and their South Island Leap

A decade ago, Doug Tait’s life changed in an instant. A serious motor accident, also involving his family, turned everything upside down. What followed was a long and challenging recovery.

But Doug isn’t one to dwell on the tough times. Instead, he remembers the moment things began to shift - the day he stepped back into the workforce and joined Urban Group as an internal sales team member.

“Talking to people every day... it was like the world opened up for me,” Doug reflects. “It reminded me of what I’d been missing.”

Today, Doug is a key account manager, covering the lower North Island and the South Island, helping customers bring their projects to life. Whether he’s on the road or on-site, Doug is in his element – seeing new parts of the country, meeting incredible people and getting out from the four walls of his office.

It’s a role that feels like a natural fit for someone who began his career in the construction industry. “I love being back amongst it all,” he says. “There’s something really satisfying about helping a project come together, and being part of a team that’s passionate about getting things right.”

For Doug, it all starts with listening. “Good relationships are built on trust and work both ways. I focus on understanding where the customer is coming from, and then I look at how Urban Group can support them. It’s never one-size-fits-all.”

That mindset, solutions-focused and customer-first, is perfectly aligned with Urban Group’s values. One of the things Doug enjoys most about working for Urban Group is their approach to innovation. “I love it when my customers begin to understand this, and they start coming to me with increasingly complex problems,” he says.  “That’s when it gets fun. We’re constantly asking, ‘what’s next?’ – and the more our customers push us, the more we grow.”

Doug knows it’s important to see projects through from end-to-end. He’s hands-on from the initial scoping, through the development and the installation. With experience, he’s learned that being involved at every stage helps minimise any hiccups and makes the process as smooth as possible for his customers.

While he enjoys the complexity of bespoke projects, Doug also knows the importance of ready-to-go solutions that are easy to access and easy to install. “In today’s market, efficiency matters,” he explains. “Having high-quality modular fencing and gates that can be ordered, delivered and installed quickly saves projects time and money.”

One recent milestone Doug is particularly proud of is the opening of Urban Group’s new Christchurch branch. “This is a game changer for the South Island,” he says. “Before, getting stock across Cook Strait was costly and slow, not to mention the risk of damage. Now we can get products out almost immediately. Our South Island customers are already telling us what a difference it’s made.”

Within the industry, Doug’s reputation speaks for itself. Customers frequently mention his knowledge, approachability, and genuine care, and those qualities haven’t gone unnoticed internally either.

“Doug is a people person,” says Urban Group CEO Fergus Stewart. “He connects easily with both customers and colleagues. He has such a positive outlook on life, is highly knowledgeable, and is passionate about delivering great results.”

When he’s not at work, Doug loves the outdoors. Whether it’s driving his much-loved 4WD 80-series Toyota Land Cruiser, boating, fishing, or hitting the golf course, he’s happiest when he’s out in nature and spending time with his family.

If you’re planning a project and want the right support from day one, Doug and the team at Urban Group are here to help. Get in touch today.